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| India-Pakistan |
| Pakistan: Islamic militants unite against Islamabad |
| 2008-09-18 |
| (AKI) - By Syed Saleem Shahzad - Pakistan's ongoing support for America's fight against terrorism has dissolved ideological differences among Islamic militants in Pakistan and Afghanistan and they have united in a dangerous new militia war. Under President Pervez Musharraf, a former general, the country's military leadership had incongruous dealings with different players and lines between friends and foes were often blurred. Those who supported a strict enforcement of Islamic law, like Afghan Taliban leaders Mullah Fazlullah and Baitullah Mehsud were called flagrant ideologues, while indigenous zealots like Haji Nazeer or Jalaluddin Haqqani were seen as good sons of the soil. But the victory of secular democratic forces in Pakistan in February this year and the success of General David Patraeus' strategy against Al-Qaeda in Iraq marked the end of Musharraf's covert regional strategic agendas. Now there are fresh battles ahead as NATO and Pakistani security forces have a single regional strategic agenda, while all Taliban groups and Al-Qaeda stand united under one policy of regional war. In a recent controversial US drone attack, several missiles were fired at an Islamic madrassa (seminary) and the house of powerful Taliban commander Jalaluddin Haqqani in Dandi Darpa Khail in the North Waziristan tribal area near the Afghan border. Jalaluddin, spiritual leader of the Haqqani network and a legendary figure in the Afghan mujahadeen, and his son, Sirajuddin, operational head of the most powerful component of the present Afghan resistance, were not there. Most of those killed were women and children from the families of the Haqqanis and the attack provoked a fierce reaction in Pakistan. In the last week in August, fighters loyal to commander Haji Nazeer attacked Pakistani security forces in South Waziristan. Haji Nazeer operates the biggest Taliban network in the neighboring Afghan province of Paktika. This is the same good old friend of the Pakistani establishment who conducted the massacre of Uzbeks in January 2007 at the instigation of Pakistani security forces. Haji Nazeer along with Hafiz Gulbadur, another Wazir from North Waziristan, recently tried to join forces with slain tribal chief Haji Namdar in Khyber Agency, to challenge the Pakistan Tehrik-i-Taliban's network. Early September saw three strikes, two on South Waziristan and one on North Waziristan, Haji Nazeer's area of command. "The recent drone attacks in South Waziristan specifically aimed at Haji Nazeer's areas changed the mindset of Haji Nazeer," a Pakstani Al-Qaeda militant told Adnkronos International (AKI) on condition of anonymity. "The shura (consultation) discussed the issue and concluded that those attacks were not possible without Pakistan's help and therefore it was decided to warn the security forces to leave South Waziristan or face the music." According to senior American officials, US President George W. Bush secretly approved orders in July that for the first time allow American Special Operations forces to carry out ground assaults inside Pakistan without the prior approval of the Pakistani government. There have been at least five attacks inside Pakistan either by US drones or by US special forces in September and this clearly indicates that the US has already opened up a war theatre in Pakistan. The assassination of Haji Namdar, a loyalist of Mullah Omar and the Pakistani security forces, has also increased the Taliban's activities under the Ustad Yasir in the Khyber Agency. There are now fears that the militia war could lead the country into deeper chaos like that seen during the Lebanese Civil War, several African countries and in neighbouring Afghanistan. |
| Posted by:Fred |
| #1 We didn't train them or support them for 30 years, so play nice with your friends boys! |
| Posted by: Titus Jeanter4551 2008-09-18 08:26 |